Time to clear out the shoes that could reach America

There are so many unworn or unused shoes in Scottish households that put heel to toe in a line they’d stretch all from Glasgow to Tierra del Fuego.

As a trip to the southernmost tip of Latin America isn’t top of the agenda for most people’s shoes, the charity Oxfam would like people to ‘free themselves from stuff’ and do something useful with it.

And it’s not just footwear that’s wasted. A survey by the charity also reveals that 90 per cent of Scots have unused items cluttering their homes – yet 10 per cent have never donated unwanted items to charity.

Broken down, the average Scot currently owns 53 items of unworn clothing, 38 CDs and DVDs that are never played, and seven pairs of unwanted shoes.

And, says Oxfam, liberating ourselves of clutter in our homes could free an entire room, for new uses.

Oxfam commissioned the study to launch its campaign asking the public to donate unwanted stuff to its shops.

Tom Richardson, Oxfam Scotland Operations Manager said: “In Scotland, it is estimated that there are more than 324 million CDs, DVDs, homewares, accessories and clothes cluttering up an extraordinary amount of space. Our homes are too small to deal with this.

“Donating unwanted items to charity is a great solution for everyone.

“It liberates precious floor and storage space in our homes and at the same time it also raises money for people who really need help.

“The money raised from the sale of an average bag of donated goods– like clothes, books, music, DVDs and homewares – could help two vulnerable families buy desperately needed food in an emergency.

“Or buy five buckets specially designed to keep water clean and disease-free.

“There are so many ways your unwanted stuff could fight poverty with Oxfam – which is why your donations are urgently needed.”

He added: “It’s satisfying to unburden yourself of the clutter other people are looking for and will love.

This weekend Oxfam is launching a nationwide donation drive to encourage the public to clear out the clutter, liberate lofts, banish buckling bookshelves and free themselves from stuff by donating to their local Oxfam shop.